Just off a two-lane road in southern Illinois, only a few miles apart, stand Covia’s Elco and Tamms plants. These neighboring facilities share a long tradition of success, built on a foundation of safety and service.
From Rivals to Partners
Although Elco and Tamms now operate as a unified team supporting Covia’s customers, their histories began on opposite sides of the competition. Each has been in operation for more than a century, strategically located near a unique deposit of microcrystalline silica at the meeting point of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
For decades, the two plants were owned by different companies, but that changed when Covia brought them under one banner during the 1980s. Since then, Tamms has evolved into a processing hub for nepheline syenite, a key ingredient in Covia’s MINBLOC® HC High-Clarity Antiblock additive and MINEX® functional fillers. Elco, meanwhile, continues to mine and refine silica, producing IMSIL® fillers that serve industries from paints and polymers to oil and gas well cementing.
Today, a 55-person workforce supports both operations, creating a sense of unity even though the facilities specialize in different minerals.
Delivering Quality with a Global Reach
Both plants share a commitment to producing high-quality minerals known for their distinctive performance. Plant Manager Bleve Willoughby credits the dedication of the workforce for the reputation their products have earned.
“Our people know their work has real impact,” Bleve says. “They take pride in making a premium product that delivers value to our customers.”
That pride extends to finding smarter ways of working. In 2024, the Elco plant improved airflow in part of its process, which boosted fine-grade production by 20%. This not only reduced operating time and costs but also ensured stronger alignment with customer needs. The team also implemented a new operating model to support these gains.
Thanks to these efforts, customers across North America, Europe, and Asia rely on minerals from Elco and Tamms. “It’s amazing to think a small-town facility like ours ships products worldwide,” Bleve reflects. “In many places, there’s nothing else like what we offer, so they come to us here in Illinois.”
Safety as a Core Value
Just as important as product quality is the way the team achieves it—safely. Both sites maintain strict controls to limit silica dust and prioritize decisions that protect employees’ well-being.
“At the end of the day, it’s the choices our people make that keep us safe,” says Bleve. “We can design safety systems and put guards in place, but it’s their actions that matter most.”
That focus has delivered impressive results: Elco has gone more than 11 years without a lost-time incident and in 2022 earned Covia’s President’s Safety Award, which recognizes the top-performing plant in safety.
Giving Back to the Community
Beyond their work inside the plants, team members are active in their communities. Covia encourages volunteerism, and employees from both Elco and Tamms often step up to serve. Several even hold leadership roles in local fire departments, while others volunteer in different capacities to support their neighbors.
“They volunteer because they truly want to make a difference,” Bleve notes.
Looking Forward
Though based in a small corner of Illinois, the Elco and Tamms plants make a global impact. Their distinctive products, innovative improvements, safety-first mindset, and commitment to community reflect the very best of Covia’s values.
From Rivals to Partners
Although Elco and Tamms now operate as a unified team supporting Covia’s customers, their histories began on opposite sides of the competition. Each has been in operation for more than a century, strategically located near a unique deposit of microcrystalline silica at the meeting point of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
For decades, the two plants were owned by different companies, but that changed when Covia brought them under one banner during the 1980s. Since then, Tamms has evolved into a processing hub for nepheline syenite, a key ingredient in Covia’s MINBLOC® HC High-Clarity Antiblock additive and MINEX® functional fillers. Elco, meanwhile, continues to mine and refine silica, producing IMSIL® fillers that serve industries from paints and polymers to oil and gas well cementing.
Today, a 55-person workforce supports both operations, creating a sense of unity even though the facilities specialize in different minerals.
Delivering Quality with a Global Reach
Both plants share a commitment to producing high-quality minerals known for their distinctive performance. Plant Manager Bleve Willoughby credits the dedication of the workforce for the reputation their products have earned.
“Our people know their work has real impact,” Bleve says. “They take pride in making a premium product that delivers value to our customers.”
That pride extends to finding smarter ways of working. In 2024, the Elco plant improved airflow in part of its process, which boosted fine-grade production by 20%. This not only reduced operating time and costs but also ensured stronger alignment with customer needs. The team also implemented a new operating model to support these gains.
Thanks to these efforts, customers across North America, Europe, and Asia rely on minerals from Elco and Tamms. “It’s amazing to think a small-town facility like ours ships products worldwide,” Bleve reflects. “In many places, there’s nothing else like what we offer, so they come to us here in Illinois.”
Safety as a Core Value
Just as important as product quality is the way the team achieves it—safely. Both sites maintain strict controls to limit silica dust and prioritize decisions that protect employees’ well-being.
“At the end of the day, it’s the choices our people make that keep us safe,” says Bleve. “We can design safety systems and put guards in place, but it’s their actions that matter most.”
That focus has delivered impressive results: Elco has gone more than 11 years without a lost-time incident and in 2022 earned Covia’s President’s Safety Award, which recognizes the top-performing plant in safety.
Giving Back to the Community
Beyond their work inside the plants, team members are active in their communities. Covia encourages volunteerism, and employees from both Elco and Tamms often step up to serve. Several even hold leadership roles in local fire departments, while others volunteer in different capacities to support their neighbors.
“They volunteer because they truly want to make a difference,” Bleve notes.
Looking Forward
Though based in a small corner of Illinois, the Elco and Tamms plants make a global impact. Their distinctive products, innovative improvements, safety-first mindset, and commitment to community reflect the very best of Covia’s values.